Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-07-26
PNEUMATIC GUNS.
An English journal on the Greaf
American Invention.
u Admits That America Has Again Revoiu
tionixed the Science Of War-Eneot
OF Giant Dynamite Shells Upon -
"Invincible' lronclads.

The problem of firing or, rather, pro-
pelling shells filled with high explosives
NAV be said to have been satisfactorily
solved by the Americans. Tentative
experiments in that direction have been
carried on for the last two years with
powder guns by officers of the United
States army. Early in 1895 trials were
made with dynamite shells ut Port Lo-
hos, CAL, under the supervision Of Gen
eral kelton. assisted by Lieutenant
Qu!nan. OF the Fourth United States
Artillery. The piece of ordnance used
was condemned three-inch ritled
wrought-ison gun. Mr. Quinan in per-
son loaded the shells, each shell-an
elongated three-ineh rifle projectile-
being charged with seven ounces OF
dynamite. The first projecting charge
was aquarter-pound of ordinary powder
Is used 10 the United States artillery,
subsequently increased TO half pound
and one pound In the first and sec
ond discharges, the shells did just what
was expected of them: they did not ex-
plode until they struck the target, :.
rock one hundred yards from the gun
When the third charge was fired, how
ever, the explosion of the charge. the
bursting of the shell and the SCATTERING
Of the gun, appeared to be simultane-
Gus, the piece Of ordnance being torn
into fragments. This may be said to
have been just what was expected and
intended, the object being to demon
strate how far shell loaded with a
high explosive may be fired from ordi-
nary guns if the propclling charge is
properly regulated.
subsequently, trials were made or
the Potomac, near Washington, by the
United States Dynamite Projectile Com
pany with Snider dynamite projectiles.
Four six-inch shells, carrying eleven
pound bursting charges of ni,ro-gela-
tine, were fired against n ledge of rock
Dne thousand yards distant. The en-
periments were regarded as a success
in every respect, and as a conclusive
proof of the destructive power Of sin
neh shells, the latter exploding on
striking the target, and doing good
execution ON the rock. But so far, all
attempts 10 throw larger charges of
high explosives on. of powder guns
have failed. At least four guns have been
Hurst at Sandy Hook; one recently.
iaying failed in the attempts to throw
lncamphorated explosive gelatine, the
very much less sensitive camphoratcd
Explosive gelatinc was rcsorted TO.
This is also less powerful than the I'M
amphorated, and requires very strong
initial defamation by illuminate of mer-
'uly and dynamite or gun-cotton to
,ttain its fullest development of
'trength. limo case have the requisite
letonators of illuminate of mercury
'cen thrown, as these are very sensi.
i've to explosion, by the shock which
hey receive in the powder gun. All
he experiments made were instructive
nut they were also destructive of tn,
suns.
The problem of propelling SHELL
dllcd with high explosives. with safety
o the guns and TO those dischargin.
hem, was not sat sfac torily settled
Until Lieutenant Zaliaski, Of the Fiftl
United States Artillery, brought for
ward his pneumatic gun, ON the inv en-
ion and improvement Of which he ha,
been engaged for some time. This gui
in reality tube sixty fee
ong, made of half-ineh iron lined witt
pne-sixteenth of an inch of brass, an,
having bore of eight inches. TIL,
barrel is supported and stiflened by
light but strong iron frame, at the cen
er Of which is a pivot, about whicl
she gun may be rcvolved. the breecl
and being provided with wheels. whicl
run upon a circular tack. The gun i
elevated and depressed by means of +,
piston. the cylinder of which receives
ur from eight rcscryoirs--eaeh O
which is twenty feet long, lively,
inches outside diameter, and made o
iron half an inch thick-placed upol
the frame beneath the barrel, the ali
being supplied by compressor. Thi
piston presses upon the gun just for
ward Of the trnnnions 10 elevate tn
barrel. Upon the air being allowed t,
escape slowly, the barrel is lowered b,
gravity. To the pistons of two cylin
ders placed at the pivot are secure,
The ends of wire ropes, one of which i
secured to the rear part of the frame
'he other 10 the opposite side. Tn,
gun may be rapidly turned in eitbe
direction by admitting air to either, c
the cylinders. An arm ut the center {
one of the trunnions, through whic
the compressed air passes to the cur
operates an auxiliary valve, which i
turn moves the main valve, openin
the passage TO an air-chamber benin
the projectile. From the instant Z
opening the valvt, the full pressure {
the air in the reservoirs Is exerted upo
the projectile until it reaches the mu;
zle, when the valves are automaticail
closed. The eight reservoirs contai
enough air at one thousand pounc
pressure to discharge the GU
SIX times; but as they can be contin,
ously resupplied with air by the con
pressor, there need be no delay i
firing.
All the movements of the gun. n,
controlled from the platform ut II